First Few Days

10/10/2007 Day 1 at the Hospital

We had the NewBorn/Feeding class in the morning. It was very informative and helpful! I learned better positions of feeding him. We had more periodic vital checking, pediatrician visit, throughout the day.

3 visitors, 20 some email replies and at least 10 calls to the baby news. Xiaoying came at lunch time, and we had a good long catch up with her. She brought a tasty shrimp dish, mmm yummy protein. Shelly came by with Sophie after her Snuggler class. The two babies looked so cute laying together (Andy looked so much smaller compared to the 3mo old Sophie!), see pictures (click next for more). She made the Chinese soup just like Mom has ordered (supposed to be good for milk production)! We decided to to go to the Snuggler class together next week. It was a bonding feeling that Shelly and I started out in Madison, worked together, and now at a similar stage in life again.
There was a beautiful sunset tonight. I got a little fresh air for the first time in 2 days. Matthew came by in the evening. We recollected the dramatic event and saw all the pictures he took. Everything still felt shockingly amazing and fresh. Matthew held Andy in the arms for a long time; he was pretty good: Andy was quiet the whole time until he got hungry at the end.

Just as we thought it was manageable from the few regular feedings of first night, we experienced what's called "Marathon feeding" night. I fed him, he fell asleep, put him down, and he cried for food. The cycle repeated. We had to call the night nurse Maria at 4. She explained this was normal as babies are more nocturnal first coming out of womb. She made the bed and positioned me so I could feed and sleep with the baby in the same bed. I was surrounded by pillows. Soon enough both Andy and I were tired out and got solid 3 hours sleep.


10/11 Day 2 Leaving the Hospital

We had some more tests and surveys. Joe went to drop off stuff, swing by old apartment, drop off apartment keys, etc. Afternoon nurse Amy helped us packing Andy into the car seat. Andy was so small that the seat still seemed hollow with him in it. She swung the car seat while we waited for Joe to pull up the car, and Andy stopped protesting about the seat right away. She said she learned these seat tricks from growing her own 2 kids. She saw us off to the car and waved us bye.

We really like Evergreen hospital. The staff is just superb. Everyone is helpful and friendly, especially liked nurses Maria and Amy. It has one of the best Lactation facilities in the world according to literature.

Coming home, it felt like I've been gone for a long time. It's amazing so much could happen in 2 days! Little Rock is in my arms instead of belly now. When I get in the car, it occurs to me to be more careful now that he is on board. When I almost trip over things, I couldn't help thinking I'd better be more careful if he is my arm. Quite a bit of mentality shift in 2 days.

Pictures

10/12 Day 3 First day Home

We went to the postpartum appointment at Evergreen hospital this morning. When I did the "express milk" thing earlier, I found the clear little colostrum dews squeezed out were more milky white now. Doc confirmed my milk was coming.
They weighed him again and he's just about on the 10% weight loss boundary. She then did the feed, weigh, feed again, and weigh again test, and found Andy only gained about 3 grams on each feed, when 15 is the norm. But she was very pleased with the enthusiastic way Andy eats so suspected it was just I'm not producing enough yet.

The next diaper change found the poop was more brown now; this confirmed it was from milk. Andy took a good 2 hour nap until after 3, so I finally got some sleep too. We decided to take him on a little walk since it was beautifully sunny and mild out. We ran into this young Asian woman neighbor taking her 14mo baby out the car. The kid dropped a shoe, so I ran to her with it, and started chatting. When she learned Andy was 3day old, she went "oh, is this the one born in the parking lot here the other day?" It turns out she lives on 3rd floor on this corner of the building. She heard the siren and watched the drama from her window! She was also surprised I was walking already. She said she couldn't do anything for the first week. I felt fortunate for my quick delivery.

We took some pictures of Andy by a nearby tree with beautiful autumn colors and picked up a couple of leaves, so we can put them in a story book we plan to make for him one day. Andy is still a night owl; he grimaced at the sight of the sun. We didn't want him getting too much sun so turned back quickly.

Andy is pretty mellow during the day still. After a short feed, he goes for a short nap. We repeat this a couple times. I just sat quietly and watched his little face in the dark. His face winks or twitches, head turns, or he takes a quicker breath once in a while. It all looks so magical to me. I realize I'll probably never get tired of just looking at him.


10/14,15 First weekend

We went to the Pediatrics Associates's Bellvue clinic on Saturday morning to weigh Andy. He's 5lb 11oz, same as when he left the hospital. It's reassuring that he didn't lose any more weight, but it could have been nicer if he had gained some given how hard he's been eating. We had more visitors today. Andy met another playmate, Brian and Qiaolan's 6mo old Lily (picture here). They got us loaded on Costco size wipes and some diapers. We went for a nice walk in the Woodland park across the street in the cozy October sun. This was the longest walk I've had since getting out of the hospital. The fresh air felt really good. Lina made a chicken soup with ginseng in it (supposed to be good for milk production). Tom and Rebecca came by on Sunday with some yummy slow cooked Eight Treasure rice (oatmeal like breakfast).

It's a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by friends, everyone is eager to see Andy and help out!

More random pictures of the 4 day old.